Our Mission

We are intentional advocates for progressive change in New Haven, in Connecticut, and across the country.We fight for candidates and causes that advance equal justice, human dignity, and the empowerment of all people.We embrace students of all backgrounds who want to take action and join a diverse community of dedicated progressives.

CAMPAIGN

We campaign for candidates who will stand up for progressive values on the local, state, and nationallevels. In the fall, our “Dems Fellows” will serve as remote interns for state legislative races in competitivedistricts in Virginia and New Jersey. We will travel to Virginia and New Jersey to canvass for both states’gubernatorial candidates, and spend Monday evenings on campus phone banking for down-ballot Dems.In the past, we have helped elect Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, Senator Elizabeth Warren, SenatorMaggie Hassan, and President Obama.

ADVOCACY

In the fall, we partner with New Haven nonprofit and activist organizations to advocate for progressivecity policies. In the spring, we run issue campaigns, communicate with state legislators, and travel toHartford to testify on behalf of legislation that promotes equality and justice for all. Our efforts werecritical to repealing the death penalty in Connecticut and mandating that all colleges and universities in ourstate employ affirmative consent policies.

DIALOGUE

Throughout the semester, we host legislators, advocates, and journalists to promote political dialogue oncampus. In the past, we have welcomed Black Lives Matter leader DeRay Mckesson (pictured above),Governor Dan Malloy, Chief Policy Adviser for Hillary for America Jake Sullivan, Senator Chris Murphy,and National Press Secretary for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign Symone Sanders. We also organizesmall “policy seminars” with Yale Law and Yale College professors so Yalies can learn more abouteducation, climate, criminal justice, and tax policy.

This publication is sponsored solely by the Yale College Democrats without support or endorsement of Yale University. Yale University does not participate in political campaigns on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.